Hi:)My name is Sandra and I would like to reflect last night's interesting session regarding seeing Practice and myself and discussions around learning, knowledge and information. I will say something from my perspective and long experience as a mover, dancer, teacher and observer. From my point of view i would say knowledge refers to the some point of awareness and understanding on the subject acquired from learning (studying, experience) of a person. Information we could see as cultivated form of data which is helpful to understand the meaning knowledge or skills (which could come before or after learning, such as receiving informations)is the relevant and objective informations that helps in drawing conclusions. So i see this three things as a wholeness of different shapes which through the phases becomes one thing, oneness (like i think something Elliot also added in discussion). Those parts are full, intertwined and connected and i would just add and related to the first thing we started and that is how we see our practice and Self. Without experience, awareness or clarification of data we can not collect those isolated particles and being reflective about ourselves and the practice. Agree with Paola that all three things they all complement each other, if we remove one from life, than we are suffering lack of understanding, either objectivity, or education (experience).
I described in my study plan my PP as a reflective, but also spontaneous which sometimes navigate to unknown and for initiation i often use my feelings, memories, and moving from the guts. I use those points also for the teaching as well. So, sometimes i do not even move, I’m contemplating, listening my body, struggling with the mind, thinking but sometimes i just act when feel confident, when I’m really serious about what i want to do and how i want to do it. I’m very critical to myself and my actions, but sometimes i just want to explore, move, dance without my critical eyes. And that is how i applying also with teaching as well. I try to bring to my students dash of awareness, some information, and relevant knowledge about themselves, their body and incorporates into the Practice (my practice, our practice, they practice), being critical but witnessing the current learning.
I was very happy to see you all there and i will try to engage myself in discussions as much as possible and connect with many of you and looking forward seeing you soon:)
Thank You Adesola and Helen for all help and useful tips during the process of assimilation and finding all important information for the study.
bug hug, sandra
Hi Sandra, I am also on Module 1 and looking forward to getting going!
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting discussion last night and I found it interesting listening to peoples interpretations of the words learning, knowledge and information. My initial response to those three words was that you gain knowledge by learning from the information that you are provided. Which instantly makes me think about the reliability of the information that you have been given and how you have to reflect upon that information and decide which parts are actually beneficial to your knowledge and working practise. Its an interesting dilemma!! Look forward to chatting soon!
Hi, Kym:) it is good to hear from you and I am really looking forward to meet you and the others. Since I am struggling with some serious internet problems, until i sort out the things, i will write, share whenever I be able to. Because of that I am delaying in reply too, hope you do not mind. I would just highlight your sentence "My initial response to those three words was that you gain knowledge by learning from the information that you are provided". I agree with that and i would like to add that we are all learners, we all learn differently. The same thing we will explain with own language or we will experience it on different levels. The problem with the learning new things could be the lack of provided information given to the learner in a sub-optimal manner. Using more experience, collected form a different perspectives and using different approaches to explain your thoughts, body language and bring closer the idea of the subject is the best way to connect those three things. Being Diverse and comprehensive, open to a new skills, experiences, information makes us better and faster learner, resourceful teachers, movers, dancers,..
DeleteHi! Unfortunately i could not be part of academic writing practice on 28th with P. Thomas but i saw the helpful and useful 5 minutes video which (in this for me difficult time give me hope and good tips and advises for tool thinking, for time limit and what should I ignore during the freewriting. Very interesting and i will try to apply ASAP. As he said writing come in many shapes and the most important thing is to relate to finding our own voice through writing and no to lose ourselves, ideas and not to fit in with other people's expectations. There is a saying that the scariest moment for the writer is always just before he start. This is for the writer the most difficult part, and like Peter said let's thoughts emerge, do not stop and just keep going, and i would add never, never, never, never, never give up:) i hope ill manage to connect on next writing workshop on October 15th.
ReplyDeleteSince i was not able to discuss with the group last Sunday regarding learning, knowledge and information, i can not reflect that but i would just add what partly i reply to Kym and what shortly i wanted to say to whole group. Like i said before, i see learning, knowledge and information interconnected and either i teach or just do my self practice i try not to ignore those three things. We are all learners, we all learn differently. The same thing we will explain with own language or we will experience it on different levels. The problem with the learning new things could be the lack of provided information given to the learner in a sub-optimal manner. Using more experience, collected form a different perspectives and using different approaches to explain your thoughts, body language and bring closer the idea of the subject is the best way to connect those three things. Being Diverse and comprehensive, open to a new skills, experiences, information makes us better and faster learner, resourceful teachers, movers, dancers,..
ReplyDeleteHi:)
ReplyDeleteSoon will be the 4th week of continuous and non stop thinking, receiving information, searching, exploring, studying, reading, re-reading, observing, contemplating my Professional Practice and i could say from this point WHAT AM I DOING?
I am moving really slowly (first because i live in part of the world which is going through such turmoil and imbalance and I am really struggling with the internet, lack of electricity from last days, but i do not want this as an excuse) i am just thinking loud and i want to share my thoughts cause this situation becomes severe and somehow affect even my learning, thinking about my Professional Practice and my daily practice as it is. I am in the middle of process of fleshing out the AOLs and my head is in a slight chaos cause I am collecting information, trying to read more, selecting things, making notes and i want to do this in order and with the sense. I re-read the handbook, started to read a Handbook of reflection and experiential learning by J. Moon, went through my thesaurus and found out how word LEARN/LEARNING has so many meanings and so many ideas about it but also confusion, misunderstandings, double meanings and since English is not my mother tongue i recognised that also in my language which is Croatian, i can find double meanings, and using different words for LEARN and TEACH. During last few days i became more semantically aware of this two words and correct meaning of those words. I will definitely work more on this issue for my AOLs and trying to be that frog who swam round and round contemplating how to solve the problem of hooping out of the milk, ill stimulating thinking and questioning further and not so longing for the answer cause i really want to trust and enjoy the process. I trust with that kind of thinking ill gain more confidence in writing and deeper understanding.I am sure that according to Kolb these day im more reflector, taking a thoughtful preparation and everything around me observing and questioning. That is why i often use Rene Decartes philosophical statement (I think, therefore i am) cause this sentence makes me alive and pushing me mentally into a deeper combing of the subject. i do not stay only on the surface, i really try to explore more and not to doubt. Doubting, questioning, reflecting, contemplating is the best part of our life and this makes as alive. so, always....keep going:)
Hi:) I am in the middle of process of refreshing AOLs and my head is full of information and new learning. I am so fascinated with the literature and the amount of knowledge about embodiment, movement, experience...Inspired by famous antics philosopher Heraclitus and his quote that there is nothing permanent except change, than Rene Descartes cogito, ergo sum, which oblige us on continuous rethinking and implying that body can be build and developed, not just controlled than that there is something in constant changing of one’s cognition and condition Bartenieff just brought another understanding: “1. Change is fundamental. The essence of movement is change. As we move, we are constantly changing. and this is our REALITY. The body has been associated with change and movement and this change we perceive through our physicality. It is interesting how the body was, from the ancient time till nowadays, subject of furious discussions and inspiration for not just dance researchers, rather philosophers, religious scientists, sociologists, psychologists, politics. Everyone somehow were looking for the TRUTH, DEFINITION, WHOLENESS. (Re)cognition can be achieved, according to Kant, through the sensing body. Mind acquire knowledge, cognition from experience and we are back to Decartes. It is very interesting how philosophy of embodiment, position of the body in society found time and space through the history and made SOMATIC study as s very important site of knowledge and interesting journey.
ReplyDeleteHow about you?what do you thing about embodiment? how you defined human body?
Hi there:)) how are you all doing?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I could not participated last week in online sessions but I would like to share my thoughts about ethics, ethical procedures and ethical considerations in that what we are creating , thinking, how we researching, how this impact on us and the others, how would be understand,...A lot of questions coming up to my mind during this study such as what we are aware of while creating something? How will what we are doing affect or maybe influence on people who are not us? (i mean here on dance, movement teachers, artists, performers), how they will feel, or what they know in the course of what happens and how we can carry out the people involved , the spaces, the time in order to make sense of experience, ideas...and how to entwine an element of quality there? how we create the truth, the real experience? All about ethics is make sure people do not get hurt, insult (this brings me to Plato(who had an awkward relationship with the arts, in one way he had some love for the arts, on the other he thought arts threatening; for him art is imitation of reality) who said that art should have a purpose, should be truthful and have Idea of Good and Beauty). Plotin and the other neoplatonists made much of the Plato's idea of Beauty eternal Truth) than Plato itself. In late 19th century that idea of art as imitation began to slightly become washed out and replaced by theories about art as expression, communication, pure form, related to aesthetic response. Lauira Cull O Maoilearca in her book THEATERS OF IMMANENCE talking about the art as an expression of itself, such as ontological expression which is immanent. Immanency in Zen Buddhism try to overcome individual ego and associate with the world and his living vitality (compare, Maoilearca O Cull 172.) So what is right for the other people? for the participative spectators or contemplative observers? I am referring here on Deleuze.. what should we expect from them? and how in this time of constant instability, lack of moral values, challenges in life, human ambiguity we can assume what beautiful and best for the people is? Should exist ethics in aesthetics?intuitive guideline, some on-going reflection, professionalism and standards in teaching, performing, acting, dancing?
Hi:) I just wanted to share today's quote about reflective conversation. I am in the middle of reading "Reflective practice and professional development" by Peter Tarrant which is really helpful regarding understanding reflective practice and among so many good advice and quotes I found this one for today " reflective conversations that are empowering enable the teachers to name, define and construct their own "realities"; they enable the teacher to sustain themselves. They nourish their sense of professional dignity" (taken from Ghaye and Ghaye, 1998., 23)
ReplyDeletewhat are your thoughts about that? What other benefits/challenges you see as a "product" of reflection, inner conversation? What is important to acknowledge in this kind of conversation?
TEACHING THROUGH REFLECTION (IN ACTION)
ReplyDeleteLast days I am very occupied with writing my first AOL and today I noticed something regarding my teaching and recognised that being a teacher is wonderful things, sharing knowledge with the students is a bless but most important things for us teachers, educators, coaches, instructors IS that we are all the time learners and we must not forget this truth. Reading one chapter today from Schon/Educating the reflective practitioner brought me to clarification (i think i had that all the time in myself but i did not have that cognition) that we as a teachers serving to eager students as self-discovery guides and provoking in his conversationalist strong will for discovering, searching, questioning for the Truth. Socrates Dialogues are the best example how to search for the real knowledge.
hi guys! how are you doing?
ReplyDeleteLast week I finished my 1AOL about importance of learning and teaching and I will just add some thoughts from the first draft.
Teaching and Learning are inevitably connected and interrelated. One does not exist without the other. We are all learners but we are receiving experience and understanding on different levels. As a learners we are endlessly challenged by the materials of learning in order to make some new step, progress and better relationship with the teaching process. “I myself am a researcher by inclination. I feel the entire thirst for cognition and the eager restlessness to proceed further in it, as well as the satisfaction at every acquisition” (Kant, 96). As teachers we are going through humble way of embracing reality and facts of how we are actually so modest and have recognition about non stop self-investment. Sometimes this interaction between teaching and learning is more like Kafkesque state of mind, very unpleasant situation, in so many stages, puzzled, uneasy when you actually do not know where you are standing, from where you are beginning, with how many information you are dealing and you do not have foundation for evaluation.
That is why according to Dewey we must be ready to use our grey cells, and start to think, to reflect, using actively, persistently critical thinking which is based on knowledge. And to being able to have a reflective thought (this ability is given only to humans) and understanding and be aware that we are having an experience (that means that you can actually using that experience as a knowledge, you can actually learn from it, then this kind of thinking start to have a meaning for the person, learner. What do you think about reflective thinking?
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI have opened some interesting chapters of KOLB very interesting book Experiential learning and found on the first page fascinating poem about the pleasure of learning in Song of Joy, by Wang Ken. Learning is the process of entering into the experience alone or together, we share what we learn to ourselves or to the other. We reflect this meaning and think about the consequences for us and the group and what this learning brought to us. From this understanding, which can be sometimes very long, exhausted but satisfied process, we can ACT to create experience of this kind of pleasure. No pleasure, no learning/ no learning, no pleasure.
Kolb developed experiential learning theory in which the learner is directly in touch with the surrounded realities. This one who only talks about, write about, reads about can not share an experience. Experiential learning theory is naturalistic ongoing process of direct learning from the experience. I ti is very important how experience is transformed into learning and trustworthy knowledge. It must be the direct experience of emotions, critical reflections, consequences of action,..."Being provoked by commitment to explore it more deeply into critical reflection, a reflection that led to an idea (the learning cycle) which we tried out the action, the consequences of which provided new stuckness (that is how Dewey see the reflective process and how he seemed to bi initiated)) and other trips around learning cycle" (see KOLB Introduction). William James talking about concrete PURE EXPERIENCE as a dual knowledge of concrete experience which is happening NOW and something we can ACT in the present. Jean Piaget describes how intelligence is shaped by experience and is a product of the interconnection between learner and an environment. He also talk about ACTION as the key of his experiential learning.
KOLB, D.A.(2015) EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Experience as the source of learning and development. 2nd Ed. New Jersey: Pearsons Education
THE LEGACY OF JOHN DEWEY AND PIAGET'S MODEL OF LEARNING
ReplyDeleteYesterday I was reading and comparing Dewey and Piaget's contribution to experiential learning and found some interesting information regarding my 1st and 2nd AOL which talking about teaching and learning and thinking in movement. Dewey is talking about DUAL KNOWLEDGE where learning involves transactions between the person and environment. They are interconnected and mutually transformed between rational controlled doing and receptive undergoing which constitutes the work of intelligence. Learning transforms impulses, emotions and desires of concrete experience into higher goals. The critical educational problem is when one of this causes take immediate action before observation and received knowledge. Postponement of immediate action is essential for observation and judgement to intervene and action is main goal for achievement of purpose. The interesting thing is (which I can related to my AOLs too) that Piaget's model of learning is also talking about mutual interaction ones and environment, continual observation as a tool for deeper perception, how intelligence is shaped by experience (Dewey is mentioning survival skills which helps the learner how to adapt and empower experience and allow her/him to exploit on their practical strengths) and talking about the ACTION as the key of learning. Key to learning lies in mutual interaction between ACCOMMODATION and ASSIMILATION. First is about CONCEPTS to experience in the world, and the second are EVENTS of experiences from the world. The process of cognitive growth from active to reflective is based on this interconnections between assimilation and accommodation into a according to Dewey "higher purposeful action"(KOLB, 18-34) Attracted to the ideas of other scholars and influenced by Jesuits (cause I obtained my BA diploma at Jesuits Faculty )and influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Confucianism I also developed my theory about the action -reaction-procreation in the process of knowledge when the learner is in a deep relationship with the Nature and hers/his self-actualization depends on truly relationship between them and capacity of wisely applying that experience.
What we are aware of in the experience of a particular movement process?
ReplyDeleteEXPERIENCE and ACTION has an importance in my life as a teacher. It is very clear that we have to be able to reconnect with our own bodies through the movement, but that also gives a hint that student needs first connect not only with the teacher, I would rather say with his own body and mind, his patterns, habits, emotions,… Agree, this part is slow and hard but as a teachers we ought to find a tool how to teach them to follow us, than how to overcome it, how to stop imitating teacher/student movement, how to re-pattern and recognize their own, except it, how to listen, become intimate with some parts of the body, creative and then start imitating again with own qualities, originality, vocabulary, imagination, acceptation of their own being using the voice as a rhythm, clapping with hands, using an instrument as a leader, using laughter as a catharsis element, silence to imbalance their zone of stability, using the space, harmony/disharmony, different habits, body language, …
Experiential learning teach us how to share this knowledge together, how to mirror and share this meaning with us and the others and think about the consequences for the group. From this understanding we can act, react and create the kind of group or environment we want. That is why we need to use everyday ongoing reflective practice and have reflective conversation with ourselves that empowers us teachers and increases our self-confidence but also make an interaction with the learners and evoke theirs meta-cognitive condition and open the appetite for contemplative and participative observing.
Hi there:)
ReplyDeleteI am finally here after almost three weeks of non stop reading, exploring, learning, searching, headaches, writing.... and I must admit I was enjoying a lot. I wrote something in academic manner 7 years ago and we know what is happening if you do not practice on daily basis, it is the same with physical practice, writing, thinking... its just do not work if you do not practice, so I was really motivated to write again and surprised when I entered again into the world of free writing which I succeed in a very short time, to collect all valuable information, learn something new and convert everything into a good experience and hopefully valuable academic writings. I want to thank Sue librarian for the help with the books and tips how to find good books for my aols and Helen, my supervisor, for the constant communication, encouraging and directing my writings. All that would sound more beautiful if I was really succeed submitting last night, but unfortunately because of some failures in the system I could not submit my 4aols and RPL template, so I guess I will wait for another submission. I was a bit disappointed, sad and really exhausted of non stop submitting and after some time i realized that maybe it is not my time last night. I want to thank Dan for the comfort, and Kym, Laura, Natalie for the direction and the help how to submit. Anyway, I hope until next time my technical problem will be sorted out.
MAPP SUNDAY DISCUSSION GROUP/ Communicating your ideas
ReplyDeleteI would like shortly reflect Sunday's night very strong and engaged debate and I was really happy I was part of that discussion. We were talking about communicative ideas, trust, patterns, using languages to understand better each others, using tools and other useful communicators which help us to enter into deeper communications in our case in dance, performing, doing art, working with kids, adults, etc. I agree with Lucian when he said that during this approach we need to be flexible and open and we need to find a way to communicate and through diversity is the best way to reach out to the others and find according to Peter Thomas our own voice, through exploring our thoughts and generating new ideas. I would add, that we need to find our own tool or patterns how to make a valuable step and give yourself to the others, no matter what you are doing. This is how I see how we can gain the trust, through reflection, honest conversation and flexible mind. In my 4th aol I am writing about communicating through performance and I would also reflect Rhoda's opinion about how we should use simple and concise language to explain the Others what is on our mind BUT we need to adapt ourselves to the others, change habits, repattern our point of view if possible even more than once, using emotional intelligence which includes self-awareness, impulse control, empathy, etc..Using experiential learning is also very helpful, or Moon is talking about unlearning which can be more important than learning. "Flexibility and openness to the possibility of mistake and error can be important in learning" (Moon, 2004, 113). In my language there is a saying that explains well this matter that "you are worth as much languages you speak". I am referring here on every knowledge, everyday experience, any language, even body language, or cue. From this point of view I am talking here as a performer (like in my 4th aol) and I would highlight my communication, cooperation through performance which is going through the audience and according to Allan Kaprow (famous American conceptual artist and painter) how this degree of openness makes an ordinary watching and listening very distinct from the specialized observation of a bodily non active audience. He is talking about "disembodies participation" which means that the art (I am talking here more about dance and performance) on the stage work for spectators only through interpretation and active collaboration through experienced insight. That makes a difference when the audience watch an action passively and when becomes an observers and being involved in active watching and listening, to be able to participate and to have power to change artistic work.
Used books for this blog:
MOON, J.A. (2004) A Handbook of Reflective and Experimental Learning: Theory and Practice, London Routledge
CULL, Laura. (2009) Deleuze and Performance. Deleuze connections, Edinburgh University Press.
SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION THROUGH REFLECTION/Wed online session Nov 25th 2020
ReplyDeleteHi there:)
I would like to reflect tonight's interesting discussion about above mentioned subject. Since I live for some time in Azerbaijan, and considering all mess regarding covid-19 and war I have witnessed last two months, I could say that all this played a big role in changing my life, thinking, moving, reflecting...Lately I was dealing with lack of electricity, internet, finding books and I could just add that all my effort I put in was a little miracle for me, cause I wrote and edit all 4aols and reflective essay is on my way to submit. Through all my aols and even this reflective essay I was engaged with a few theorists, such as Schön, Kolb, Zull, P. Tarrant, Piaget, Dewey...who really changed my way of thinking in a positive way, cause I could finally put in a academic frame what I am actually writing about in my reflective essay. Since I do not unfortunately, ( because of above mentioned issues) dance, perform, or teach, I still can move for my own purposes and enter into deep reflection. Therefore, I would like to say that as an artist, mover, performer, thinker I was able last two months to design my thoughts, reflections, in a very uncertain, unique and awkward situation. Since I can not perform, I started deep and intimate conversation with the material I had in front of me. With words. I started being playful like with the steps in dance and to be more open and flowing. Schön is talking about reflection in action. And reflection gives rise to the spot experiment, to exploration, new invention. Since I know myself I have been reflective, but reading new theorists, I came to conclusion how to synthesis better through reflection and started thinking how we first need remember and memorize things, then how we need to clear emotions, how we need constant reflection in order to change some patterns in our lives and see what make thing beneficial and meaningful, how we sharing our thoughts, how looks when frustration of reflection take over on things, when things are not going according to plan and what is making sense in our learning. Few hours before the online session I had a very useful skype meeting with Helen, my Supervisor, and she asked me how I am after almost 2 months of exploring, writing... and I said that I must admit that I am a bit tired or reflecting, cause this is mostly what I am doing and this is great, but my work is also talking about action-reaction-recration, in this terms I can not show this in practical way as an artist, than only through the words. So, this meta-cognition in reflective practice is important and it is relevant to the Self; self-awareness, self- reflective thoughts, emotional self control,...According to Dewey learning is experiential and it is only worth if it is applicable to present situations. Experiential learning lead us to questions, turn us away from working knowledge, information, relationship, it remind us that higher education can do more than deposit information. Piaget's theory describes how intelligence is shaped by experience and arises as a product between person and environment. She is also talking about the ACTION as the key to learning.
I am aware that some of you are much much better on the dance floor or in the classroom but try to figure it out how you can steps or some moves replace with the words and just start playing and being flexible. Start juggling, playing, floating, go deeper with reflective practice and communicate all the time with books:)
FINISHING THE PERSONAL ESSAY ON PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE....just a reflection from my writing...
ReplyDeleteSTRONG CURRENTS
I am writing this essay after almost 12 weeks of my learning and reviewing. I, myself have been stimulated to go through research of my professional practice and gained knowledge and must admit this is a powerful thing, but also a challenged work. My personal reflection (on) was very much linked with the fact who am I, especially sensitive work on my four areas of Learning. It seems so easy to demonstrate worth of reflecting, but at the moment it seems there is no material to upgrade, to represent or reflect. Just a headache and wall between me and my thoughts. That was a sign for a deeper mind searching. Isn’t it something ironic in that part? It is obvious that we as humans have some kind of internal and external experience (there is no real experience without the external one) but anyway if we want to understand more we need to stimulate deeper thoughts and provoke deeper memories, observe, read between the lines and clarify. During exposing my areas of learning I have recognised that my way of reading, learning or performing became a bedrock for cooperative way of interaction and confidence developed as a result of these interactions (Tarrant, 2013, 132). I see that development through reflection. Our teaching, moving, understanding our values will “only change if they engage themselves in sharing a compelling reason for doing so” (Ibid, 173). This fundamental element of knowing provide a great sense of freedom and confidence for the teacher and the student both. Sharing Endvel Tulving thoughts “Only through the sophisticated representation of the self can an individual self knowing recollect personal events from the past and mentally project one’s existence into the subjective future” (Kolb, 2015, 92).
What are your thoughts about it? How do you feel after almost three months of constant studying?
COMPARING AND FLOATING with thoughts...
ReplyDeleteLately I have been reading S. Cottrell's (Critical Thinking Skills) and S. Fraleigh's (Moving Consciously) amazing books (I warmly recommend them) and since I am last 2,3 months very much into different kind of reflections I would like to share few sentences about critical thinking and dancing. It is obvious that thinking and dancing matching. "Dancing is thinking in movement" (Fraleigh, 2015, 155). When we merge into images full of life and forget ourselves in the moment then reflect again through the steps our past experiences and concentrate on area of our body than we know that we are, that are who we are, that we exist. All this experience is related to critical thinking and resonating which direct us to go through mental processes such as attention, categorization, selection or judgement (Cottrell, 2005, 1). "Using skepticism in critical thinking means bringing an element of polite doubt (Ibid, 2). When we use doubt constructively and certain set of methods to explore evidence in particular way than we can say that we reason things; that we improve observation, ability to identify key points, etc. In somatic work, mental imaging is very important. "Communicating embodiment knowing through participating in performance require a particular sensibility, awareness and openness to the self, audience ether spectators (Fraleigh, 2005, 158).
what are your thoughts about dancing and thinking in movement?
sharing last sentences from my reflective essay...
ReplyDeleteThinking requires a visible facts which is brought to mind. Thoughts that results in strongly grounded evidences have an importance which can lead to reflective thoughts, or do a smooth touch on conscious. “Reflective thought is active, persistent and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the ground that support it and the further conclusions to which it tends” (Dewey, 1910, 6). Reflective thinking search for requiring, for the solution of perplexity, for the state of hesitation, make one dare to think. This confusion can be answered by “one’s own previous experience and prior knowledge” (Ibid, 12). If the activity goes smoothly and if the event once happened is easily accepted, without looking for the evidence and if recognised automatically then we can not talk about reflectivity. Reflective thinking should give us a worry, a shock, disturbance, but also involves readiness, clarity of purpose, give us an idea of meaning used as a tool of judgement, a suspension which is sometimes so long and painful process, a systematic and protracted inquiry with which we can master various methods of searching for exploration of experiential learning. When we consider those essentials for thinking and when we become moved not only by instincts we can slowly come out from Plato’s cave and stay out of our mental hole and be driven by breath, sun, action, perceived facts to be able to plant a seed and open more possibilities to learn something valuable for life. With that qualities and willingness to engage ourselves in cognitive activities and doubting we can enter deeper into dance and movement.
How is your reflecting on so far? did something change in your way of thinking, living, writing, seeing the world? or dance?
Saturday's induction zoom meeting (Feb, 6 2021).
ReplyDeleteHi there, finally we are all back:) It was great to see old faces from different Modules and new one at our Welcome/welcome back session over the weekend. It is nice to be here, even virtually on Faculty. Makes me alive. It was also good to know and hear other Heads of Departments, and Director of Faculty. Thank you Helen for the thorough information regarding our studying and for the encouragement for the next steps. So, this is all for now...get slowly into the rhythm, read, write, think, create, reflect and trust the process...
Hi Sandra, I'm starting on Module One (Somatic Studies) and am super excited to get stuck in! Looking forward to sharing thoughts and ideas as the year progresses!
ReplyDeleteHi Natasha, I am very ecxited to meet you soon on our skype sessions. Welcome to Module One. I see we will share a lot of things in common. good luck:)
DeleteMOrning:)
ReplyDeleteThe power of vulnerability
I did not have intention writing about this subject. But this morning i checked Helens blog, like i did every Monday Module ago, and i saw really impressive speech of Brené Brown about the vulnerability. So today, like i already write on Helens blogh, i eill say something about our vulnerability is actually our strength, but most of us never see ourselves in that way. It is much easier to struggle with it, scream, expect for someones call and look miserable, having everything under certainty (which is also so sad and exhausted) than start listening ourselves, being worthy, stop to be perfect, rather start to be brave to be seen deeply, vulnerably and worthy of love and belonging. I think most of us were been there and when we admit to ourselves that reality than we can move on in our relationships, work, creativity, joy, sadness,... Vulnerability is part of creative people, especially people in arts,writing, dance, movement, drama...we are showing that vulnerability every day , we are exposed, we let ourselves to be seen deeply, we are open as a book cause being vulnerable is being honest to the others but to oneself as well. this is our tool to show core of fear but also safe place of joy, love and belonging.
During the studying i found very vulnerable place, blog. Firstly, i did not know what to write. I mean i have thoughts, something to say but still when i realized that this needs to come out in public, i started to be a bit in panic, what to write, what to say , how smart this should be, bla, bla,,,than i just breathe in and started with writing. i trusted myself in this process. this is only what we have. We must treat ourselves the best. Think that we are worthy. and suddenly this sounds so pathetic but it is not! and this is the point where society what us to think. that it is wrong if we show our true face, true feelings, that our time in not worthy..well this is wrong and we should not believe such a things this is important to repeat every single day. that is how we becoming strong. By believing in ourselves, not matter what others think. this should become our mantra.
How do you feel about it? what are your thoughts? have you ever lost part of yourselves just to be connected somewhere in society, in order to be someone else?
share your thoughts, connect, be brave, ...
WEDNESDAY MODULE 1 DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PRACTICE AND SELF, FEB 17, 2021
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely to meet Module 1 students and to see new faces and hear about their practice, articulation of practice and some areas of learning emerged from different speakers.I realized i was the only one from other modules but anyway it was lovely night full of fresh ideas and thoughts. Interesting Alan Watts quote Helen put on her last blog “Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.” that is so ironic and true, cause i had the same feeling when i enrolled on Module 1, i was struggling how to define myself, i came from different background, i was a dancer, teacher, performer, somatic explorer, i was acting, working in the Embassy, in communication..ohh so many jobs and still it was hard to find a real identity...but slowly with the tutors help, with a lot of thinking, reflecting, talking and sharing thoughts with some nice people from the blog, i started put my AOL-s in a right frame.
As I move through the Module 1, reading through module handbook for Module 2 gathering resources from the reading list, I became more conscious of my own practice as an "important" thing in my life. That remind me to take my own tempo, rhythm, to listen myself, what I am struggling the most, how not to be vulnerable during the open sessions or writing blogs while sharing my thoughts. I started deeply observe my own patterns, adapted new vocabulary, communicative ideas and started to be aware of my own learning process. And this is still challenging. I need a lot to cover, to go back again to the AOLs and find the key area of my practice, ads a good reminder of my next research, then identify the area of my research and keep questioning myself at what stage i am , here and now. I ought to develop my questioning, reflecting, locating myself where I am today. So, I guess, I will work on deepening my experience (knowledge) in relationship what i have learned from the other experiences (talks, book, blogs), communicate my ideas in relation to my professional practice. Never stop questioning is the right path. Tom Weksler, one of my favorite and very active movement researcher said that "arriving and knowing are wonderful things, but they are not driving force of creativity". Curiosity of experience is very important for movement and dance researcher, rather then curiosity to know.
Throughout the Module 1 I really focused more on my learning, apprehending my thoughts and reflection on professional practice and this module challenged me to thing outside the box to come up with a positive thoughts about deeper reflection on action or according to D. Schön "knowing in action". So, I am excited for new possibilities I will gain from the next Module, Module 2 and see how my work is proceeding.
ACADEMIC WRITING PRACTICE I WITH PETER THOMAS on Feb 22nd 2021
ReplyDeleteI am very grateful for Peter Thomas writing workshop, ideas and tips about free and academic writing. Since I was not able to participate during my Module 1, i am really content i could hear some new and useful thoughts about writing. So, Peter gave us in the beginning of the workshop a little task to write about WHAT IS WRITING?
I wanted to feel that free-writing flow, i did not want to think a lot, and to implement only the impulse of the moment...so i wrote....
every experience starts with an impulse.
find an impulse in you own hand and just start ...
throughout that impulse we expressing ourselves, sharing embodied thoughts through the words
we are connected in a very intrinsic way with the experience, paper and pan at the given moment.
Somebody mentioned that writing is a capturing a moment... agree, and than we are framing that moment into something meaningful, valuable, with satisfaction..This is a process, a constant process of reviewing and rewriting, but also improving process where we reflecting our practice, ideas, thoughts, where we are fully present. Either freestyle blog, or academic writing demands a hard work, own toolbox, own will-power, focus to get immediately to work. so, the one thing as writers we need, JUST START and keep going!!!:)
Richard Bach: " A professional writer is an amateur who did not quit".
THOUGHTS ABOUT CONSCIOUS...
ReplyDeleteLast three weeks i am really preoccupied with thoughts about my plan proposal research. My brain and mind are overwhelmed a bit, cause searching means charging the energy but also exhausting a mental sources. Since i have completed all my duties to MODULE 1 , proposal for the next stage brought to the wall, to the dead end cause i was asking myself on daily basis, ok, what will be your research project, what is of your best interest, for what are you longing for to search... Somatic work is so enormous, huge as ocean and i am in the middle of the ocean in my tiny boat and sailing somewhere ( i still do not know..) but then, i started to think, ok, let's check aol areas, key words from your work and start from there, from the facts i wrote about it, from the simple things, and i started from the conscious and why conscious matters...Firstly, we reflect various things. We proceed from the first movement and breath point of view. We embodied through senses and thinking body. According to Dewey we believe that every experience is an impulse. Every reflection on it provoke dull state of mind, evoke critical thinking, constant re-thinking in movement if we take it from somato-sensory aspects. This is a journey of dynamic learning and according to him means “knowing in action”, when we are truly open for the search or according to Husserl knowing is always and only through a state of pure consciousness. How we can have knowledge about something?
What we are actually aware of a particular movement process? The central structure of an experience is its intentionality or in intentive/minded body. Before we move, we think Dewey says. Phenomenology gives much vide range, addressing the meaning things we embedded in our previous (internal) experience, the significance of objects, events, tools, flow of the time, the Self, the environment, the tiny breath are experienced in our LIFE-WORLD. These things lead us to the meaningful-discovery learning of a given experience, somatic awareness, understanding of prior cognition by comprehending metacognitive condition and open the “appetite”, the call for contemplative and participative observing (as a dancer, mover either active observer). Decartes sees body as an experienced and articulated entity of action. Consciousness coordinate stimuli (brain/mind relationship) according to purposeful perception at the moment in time. Our body is moved and defined by our intentions, energies, breath. Being aware of all one’s limitations give an aesthetic purpose of the dance. Matching work through the breath, touch, voice and movement lead us to a specific body-mind connection and bring experienced body to existence while securing the aesthetic purpose while dancing, moving, performing, either walking…
Activity in the movement and self-awareness with the breath support arise through perceptions that internally affect external circumstances. Movement itself according to Sondra Horton is somatically affective, we can relating movement through imagery. To move with a somatic purpose is to move with an aesthetic purpose and aim for transformation through somatic experience, which goes through constant awareness, perceptual realisation into something enormous, such as consciousness which is fundamental to mind and thought relationship, connected to the trust, intuition and our primordial experience. Expanding the awareness of self-expression and self-perception at the persons state of mind we move from the state of paralysis into a state of active engagement. Reality of whole self shaped in (by) the experience and consciousness bring us to the body of action with purposeful task connected to the breath, curiosity, surprise and perceiving knowledge (experience) and the movement as fundamental and hidden in our EMBODIMENT.
That is why conscious matters.